Apparatus for automatically threading transverse ribs on to tubes, especially for heat exchangers



July 2, 1963 G SEIEN 3, 5, 3

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY THREADING TRANSVERSE RIBS ON TO TUBES,ESPECIALLY FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS Filed Oct. 12, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l W$WM July 2, 1963 G. SEIEN 3,095,639

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY THREADING TRANSVERSE RIBS ON TO TUBES.ESPECIALLY FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS Filed Oct. 12, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Jake/Mort s S July 2, 1963 G. SEIEN 3,095,639

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY THREADING TRANSVERSE RIBS ON TO TUBES,ESPECIALLY FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS Filed Oct. 12, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

Int enter? 5d r 1 z e g $417146,

July 2, 1963 G. SEIEN 5, 39

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY THREADING TRANSVERSE RIBS ON TO TUBES,ESPECIALLY FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS Filed Oct. 12. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 -IIIif A

United States Patent APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY THREADING TRANSVERSERIBS ON TO TUBES, ESPECIALLY FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS Giinter Seien,Wanne-Eickel, Germany, assignor to GEA Luftkuhlergesellschaft HappelGesellschaft m.b.H., & Co. K.G., Bochum, Germany, a firm Filed Oct. 12,1960, Ser. No. 62,228 Claims priority, application Germany Oct. 13, 195924 Claims. (Cl. 29-202) Inthe production of tubes provided withtransverse ribs and intended particularly for heat exchangers, it isknown to thread on to a tube at uniform, adjustable distances apart ribplates stamped out from a band of sheet metal and provided in the regionof their aperture for slipping on to the tube with an annular collareffecting a sliding seat on the tube. Hitherto, the threading on of suchrib plates was effected by slipping the individual stamped rib plates byhand on to the substantially smooth tube and pushing them together insuch a manner that they are uniformly spaced, the uniform spacing beingpossibly determined by spacer tongues or thelike punched out from therib plates. This known method is extremely circumstantial and expensiveas the length of tube which can be provided with ribs by one operatorper unit of time is relatively small. In addition, in threading the ribplates on to the tube by hand, it is often the case that the spacing ofthe ribs, especially when they are not provided with spacer tongues orthe like, cannot be maintained with the accuracy required.

3,095,639 Patented July 2, 1963 front portion of which foot, as viewedin the feed direction, the pivot of the carrier is mounted and on therear portion of which a sliding cheek is detachably fixed which bearsagainst the supporting surface. The center of gnavity of the carrierprovided with sliding foot and sliding cheek is so positioned that, whenthe carrier is in its operative position, it lies, as viewed in the feeddirection, behind the pivot of the carrier and, when the carrier is inits inoperative position, below its pivot.

The supporting surface is preferably composed of 1a plurality ofsupporting cheeks which are mounted on a sec- To overcome thesedisadwantages of the known method,

the present invention provides an apparatus for automatically threadingtransverse ribs on to tubes, in which lib plates preferably deliveredfrom a stamping machine are threaded with force fit on to at least onesubstantially smooth tube at preferably adjustable distances apart,which gomprises a circulating endless band, carriers pivotally mountedon said endless band, a guide movable in the opposite direction to thefeed direction of said carriers, each carrier arranged to cooperate withsaid guide to suecessively pick up a rib plate as it is delivered by thestamping machine, to thread said plate on to the stationary tube, slideit into its extreme position on the tube and then to swing down andrelease the rib plate when this position is reached.

This apparatus, in spite of its relatively simple construction, enablesa tube, which hitherto was invariably provided with ribs by hand, to befitted with ribs entirely automatically, whereby not only outputs fargreater than those obtainable by hand are obtained but also much greateraccuracy in spacing is achieved.

The carriers preferably have sliding feet which are guided on asubstantially even supporting surface movable in a direction opposite tothe feed direction of the carriers and extending only up to therespective final position reached by the rib plate pushed forward by thecarrier, in such a manner that, directly behind the final position ofthe rib plate, each carrier automatically swings into its inoperativeposition, counter to the feed direction, due to a torque exerted by itscenter of gravity. Thus, for guiding and holding the carriers in theiroperative positions in which they push forward the rib plates as well asfor disengaging the carriers from the rib plates in the respective finalpositions of the rib plates and for swinging out the carriers into theirrest positions, guiding and controlling means of extremely simpleconstruction are sufli cient, which, nevertheless, ensure an extremelyreliable operation and a high degree of accuracy as regards the spacingof the ribs.

In a preferred form of construction, the sliding foot is detachablyfixed on the lower end of each carrier, in the 0nd endless band movableat least in a direction opposite to that in which the carrier bandcirculates. Both the carrier band and the endless band carrying thesupporting cheeks may be constructed as link chains, especially sprocketchains.

Whereas the strand of the supporting cheek chain serving for supportingthe carriers is of a length at least corersponding to that of the tubeto be provided with ribs,

it is advisable to make the length of the supporting strand of thesupporting cheek chain about the same as that of the working strand ofthe carrier chain. The supporting strand of the supporting cheek chainis, as a rule, guided substantially parallel to the working strand ofthe carrier chain situated above it.

According to another feature of the invention a rigid guideway isprovided for the sliding feet of the carriers in front of the supportingsurface formed by the supporting cheeks. This guideway is in alignmentwith the supporting surface and extends up to about the middle of thereturn curve of the carrier chain and serves for swinging the carriersinto their operative position and holding them in this position inpassing them over from the lower to the upper strand of the carrierchain.

To ensure that the carriers release the rib plates directly after theyhave carried them into their respective final positions, a carriagemovable in the same direction and at the same speed as the supportingcheeks may further be provided which has resiliently mounted stopsextending opposite the feed direction of the carriers, which stopseffect an accelerated and sudden swinging of the carriers into theirinopenative positions and consequently a sudden release of the ribplates after the sliding feet of the carriers have slipped ofl the lastsupporting check of the supporting cheek chain.

As a rule, it is advisable that the supporting cheek chain can be drivenboth in a counter direction and in the same direction of circulation asthe carrier chain. This renders it possible to drive the carrier chainand the supporting cheek chain in opposite directions during thethreading on of the rib plates, whereas the two chains can be driven inthe same direction after completion of the fitting of the ribs so as toenable the supporting cheek chain to be returned into its initialposition within the shortest possible space of time for threading ribson to the next following tube. The carrier chain and the supportingcheek chain are conveniently connected to a common driving motor bymeans of at least one infinitely variable reduction gear, :aparticularly simple and economical arrangement being attained by drivingthe carrier chain and the supporting cheek chain, at least during thethreading on of the rib plates, by the driving motor of the stampingmachine supplying the rib plates.

The movements of the carrier chain and the supporting cheek chain inopposite directions are so tuned to each other that the rib platesengaged and pushed forward by the successive carriers are released bythe carriers after being fed along a path always becoming shorter by thesame, preferably adjustable amounts. The spacing of the ribs can beadjusted in a simple manner, for example by reguliiting the speed atwhich the supporting cheek chain trave s.

It is also possible to provide a preferably adjustable limit switchwhich, after the last rib plate has been slipped into position, eliectsthe standstill of the carrier chain, of the supporting cheek chain aswell as preferably also of the stamping machine supplying the ribplates. When the last rib plate has been threaded on to the tube and theentire apparatus has been switched off, the supporting cheek chain canbe moved back in the opposite direction into its initial position eitherby hand or by means of a separate auxiliary motor or also, using anarrangement of suitable clutch and gear means, by the motor driving thestamping machine.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way ofexample and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of an apparatus accordingto the invention for automatically threading transverse ribs on totubes;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing a guide for the carriers cooperatingtherewith;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of a canrier in vertical operativeposition together with its guide;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line IVIV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of an arrangement of drives, clutchesand gears for the feeding elements of the carriers and supportingcheeks.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus according to the invention includes asubstantially horizontal threading bench 2 on which at least one smoothtube 3 is arranged and which is directly connected to the discharge sideof a supply means or stamping machine 1. The stamping machine 1 is aconventional eccentric press and preferably delivers rib plates 6 havinga central aperture corresponding to the external diameter of the tubeand provided with an annular collar to ensure a firm sliding seat forthe rib plates on the tube. The rib plates 6 stamped out by punches 4are conveyed from these punches by a feeding device (not shown) to thetube 3 fixedly mounted on the threading bench 2.

A holding means or mounting support 7 provided at the end of the tuberemote from the stamping machine 1 securely holds the tube in thedesired position, the end of the tube being embraced by a sleeve andfixed by means of a clamping screw 8. The mounting support 7 ispreferably shiftable in the direction of the threading bench foradaptation to tubes of different lengths. Fitted on the end of the tubeadjacent the stamping machine is a horn-shaped catch pin 5 which is soarranged that the stamped rib plates 6 coming from the feeding device ofthe stamping machine are successively threaded on to the tube by meansof this catch pin and engaged by conveyor means including carriers 9 forsliding the rib plates 6 along the tube.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the carriers 9 are pivotally mounted on anendless conveyor band or carrier chain 10 having its working strandguided parallel to the axis of the tube, the carriers being adapted toturn about horizontal pivots 11 arranged at right angles to the feeddirection x of the carriers. The pivots l1 serve at the same time aschain studs and as running axles for the carrier chain 19 and for thispurpose, as shown in FIG. 3, rollers 12 are fitted on their ends andlaterally guided in U-shaped guide rails 13 of the threading bench 2.Rotatably mounted on the pivots 11 directly inside the rollers 12 aredriving rollers 14 which serve for engaging a chain driving drum 15(FIG. 1). In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the carriers 9are provided in their upper portions with two recesses .16 in Which thetubes to be fitted with ribs are situated. The recesses 16 are largerthan the external diameters of the tubes, but smaller than the ribplates 6. In the case of a threading hench of wider construction, itwould be naturally also possible simultaneously to provide with ribplates even more tubes arranged side by side. The tubes can be fittedwith both separate rib plates which are independent of each other andrib plates which are commonly threaded on to several tubes, thusconstituting connecting elements for several tubes. The carriers 9 aresecured at their lower corners to swinging supports 17 by means ofscrews 18 or the like. Another swinging support is arranged in themiddle of the lower edge of the carrier and constructed as a slidingfoot 19. This sliding foot 19 extends substantially in a directionopposite to the feed direction x of the carriers 9 and is provided onits underside with a sliding check 21 secured thereto by means of screws20 or the like. This construction ensures that a torque in the sense ofa swinging movement opposite to the feed movement of the carriers 9 isalways exerted on these carriers.

For taking along the rib plates 6, the carriers 9 are held in theirvertical position by the sliding movement of their sliding cheeks 21 oncontrol means including a supporting surface composed of guide membersor supporting cheeks 22. These supporting cheeks 22 are attached to acontrol band such as a chain 23. In the embodiment shown, the supportingcheeks 22 are connected by means of extensions 24 to the chain links ofthe supporting cheek chain 23 and extend substantially over the lengthof two chain links, as can be seen from FIG. 4. The supporting cheekchain 23 is, as shown in FIG. 2, also constructed as an endless band orcirculating link chain and has a working strand which is at least aslong as the tube to be fitted with ribs, only about halt" the chainbeing provided with supporting cheeks 22. The working strand of thesupporting cheek chain 23 is guided parallel to the working strand ofthe carrier chain 10 in such a manner that the sliding cheeks 21 of thecarriers 9 rest against the supporting cheeks 22 parallel thereto. Theworking strand of the supporting cheek chain 23 is, during the fittingof the rib plates 6, driven in a direction opposite to the teeddirection of the carriers 9 on the working strand of the carrier chain10. The supporting cheek chain 23 is, as shown in FIG. 1, guided over adriving wheel 26, a reversing wheel 27 and a tension wheel 28.

In FIG. 2, the reversing wheel 27 is constructed as the tension wheeland rotatably mounted in a fork 36. A bolt 37 connected with this fork36 passes, in this form of construction, through a strut 38 of thethreading bench 2 and is supported against the action of a pressurespring 39. The pressure spring 39 bears at one end against the strut 38and at its other end against a tightening nut 40. The wheel 26 of thesupporting cheek chain 23 serves, as is also shown in FIG. 1, as adriving wheel. A hand crank 35 (FIG. 1) is fixed on the driving shaftfor the driving wheel 26 of the supporting cheek chain 23 and serves forreturning the supporting cheek chain into its initial position by handwhen the fitting of the rib plates 6 is completed, so that it is readyfor dealing with the next tube.

It will be clear that the portion of tube 3 projecting from the mountingsupport 7 towards the stamping machine 1 extends along the path of thecarriers 9 in such a manner that the carriers move along the projectingportion of tube 3 towards the mounting support 7 for successivelyplacing the rib plates 6 on this projecting portion of the tube.

In the event that the supporting cheek chain 23 does not extend right upto the reversal point of the carrier chain 16 at the end thereof facingthe stamping machine 1, a rigid guideway 41 is provided for the carriers9 at the height of the supporting surface formed by the supportingcheeks 22 and extends into the range of the curved guide rail 13conducting the carrier chain 10 into the upper strand, the front end ofthe rigid guideway 41 in the feed direction x of the lower strand of thecarrier chain 10 (which is not shown in FIG. 2) being bent downwards inarcuate shape to about half the distance between the upper and lowerstrands of the carrier chain in such a manner that the carriers 9 areswung into their vertical operative position in which they are helduntil they are conducted by the guideway 41 on to the supporting cheeks22 on which they travel up to the end of a last supporting cheek 25. Toensure a position of the carriers 9 as steady as possible shortly beforethey are disengaged from the rib plates 6 owing to their swinging overwhen their sliding cheeks 21 run off the supporting surface, the lastsupporting check 25 is made about twice as long as the other supportingcheeks 22.

The rib plates 6 are provided with spacer tongues 45 which, however, canbe dispensed with when the centers of gravity of the carriers 9 are sopositioned that as soon as the sliding cheeks 21 leave the lastsupporting cheek 25, a sufiiciently high torque is exerted on thecarriers to cause an instantaneous disengagement of the carriers fromthe rib plates.

This sudden disengagement of the carriers 9 from the rib plates 6 can beassisted by coupling a carriage 42, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1,which is equipped with springs and provided with stops (not shown), withthe supporting cheek chain 23 preferably by means of a clamping lever43- in such a manner that the springy stops come into contact with thecarriers 9 above their pivots .11 at the same time as, or preferablyslightly earlier than, the sliding cheeks 21 of the carriers 9 leave thelast supporting check 25.

Arranged at the end of the threading bench 2 adjacent the stampingmachine is an adjustable limit switch 44 (FIG. 1) which is actuated bythe impact of a part of the, supporting cheek chain 23 or of thecarriage 42 arranged near the last supporting cheek 25 and effects thestoppage of the driving motor of the stamping machine and consequentlyof the entire apparatus.

Infinitely variable gears are disposed between the carrier chainandthesupporting cheek chain 23 on the one hand and the driving motor ofthe stamping machine 1 on the other hand. The gear between the carrierchain 10 and the'driving motor of the stamping machine servessubstantially only for tuning the feed speed of the carrier "chain sofinely to the operating speed of the stamping machine that each time arib plate 6 is threaded on to 'the tube 3, the rib plate is directlyengaged by a carrier 9 and shifted along the tube. For this purpose, atransmission or gear 59 is provided, as shown in FIG. 5, which directlyfollows a drive 33 for the stamping machine, and by regulating thisgear, the relative speed between the carrier chain 10 and the supportingcheek chain 23 and consequently the spacing of the rib plates 6 in theirfinal positions are not changed. On the other hand, a transmission orgear 34 between the supporting cheek chain and the driving motor of thestamping machine is variable within wider limits and serves foradjusting the spacing of the rib plates, a lower speed of the supportingcheek chain in relation to the feed speed of the carrier chain resultingin closer spacing of the rib plates and analogously, relatively higherspeed producing wider spacing of the rib plates.

To be able to bring the supporting cheek chain 23 back into its initialposition ready for a new rib threading operation after it has completedthe previous rib threading operation, the supporting cheek chain can bebrought back into its initial position by means of the hand crank 35after a clutch between the driving wheel and the driving shaft has beendisengaged. However, when returning the supporting cheek chain into itsinitial position, all the carriers 9 being in the working strand of thecarrier chain and swung into the horizontal position in front of thelast supporting check 25 must be raised from their horizontal positionback into their vertical position by hand so that the supporting cheeks22 can be passed below them and the sliding cheeks 21 of the carriers 9can again rest against the supporting cheeks 22.

As this manipulation is very circumstantial and timeconsuming, anarrangement such as that shown in FIG. 5 is recommended which avoids theabove-mentioned disadvantages; In this arrangement, the drive 33 of thestamping machine 1 acts through the intermediary of driving wheels, abelt drive 32 and the infinitely variable gear 59 on a driving shaft 48which, turn, drives a driving shaft 46 for the carrier chain 10 throughthe intermediary of driving wheels and a drive 49, as Well as thesupporting cheek chain 23 through the intermediary of a drive 30, aninfinitely variable gear 34, a drive 50 and a double clutch 52, thedrives being so constructed that a feed movement y of the supportingcheek chain 23 is in opposite direction to the feed movement x of thecarrier chain 10. The driving wheel 26 of the supporting cheek chain 23land a normally disengaged clutch shaft 55 are in alignment with thedriving shaft 46 for the carrier chain 10-. The clutch shaft 55 can beconnected by means of a clutch 56, and the driving wheel 26 by means ofthe clutch 52 with the driving shaft 46 for the carrier chain 10, theclutch 52 at the same time disengaging the driving wheel 26 from adriving wheel 57 driven by the drive 50. This clutching operation ispreferably effected simultaneously with the aid of a hand lever 58. Theclutch shaft 55 is connected to an auxiliary drive 47 through theintermediary of a gear 54. Furthermore, the driving-wheel driven by thebelt drive 32 can' be disengaged from the shaft 48 by means of a clutch31.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 5 operates in the following manner:

During the threading of the rib plates 6 on to the tube 3, the clutch 56is disengage-d, the clutch 31 engaged and the double clutch 52 in aposition connecting the driving wheel 57 with the driving wheel 26 anddisconnecting the latter from the shaft 46, so that the working strandof the carrier chain 10 moves in the direction x and the working strandof the supporting cheek chain 23 moves in the direction y. After theapparatus has come to a standstill at the end of the rib fittingoperation through the actuation of thelimit switch 44, the clutch 31 isdisengaged, the clutch 56 engaged and the double clutch 52 operated insuch a manner that the driving wheel 26 is disconnected from the drivingwheel 57' and connected with the shaft 46. If the clutch shaft 55 isthen driven by means of the auxiliary motor 47 in the same direction ofrotation as that in which the driving shaft 46 was hitherto driven, the

working strand of the carrier chain 10 will still be moved in thedirection x whereas the direction of movement of the working strand ofthe supporting cheek chain 23 will be reversed so that the two workingstrands will run in the same direction. The auxiliary drive 47 ispermitted to operate until the last support cheek 25 has again reachedits initial position for carrying out the next rib fitting operation. Ifthe diameter of the driving wheel 26 is chosen of such a size inrelation to the diameter of the driving wheel 15 of the carrier chain 10that the speed of the carrier chain is at least equal to that of thesupporting cheek chain, the last supporting cheek 25 will, during itsreturn movement, not encounter any carrier swung into the horizontalposition.

When the last supporting cheek 25 has again reached its prescribedinitial position for carrying out the next rib threading operation andthe auxiliary motor 47 is switched ofif, the clutch 56 will bedisengaged, the double clutch 52 reversed and the clutch 31 engaged,with the result that the apparatus is ready for the next rib fittingoperation.

:It is also possible to disengage the driving motor of the stampingmachine from the stamping machine and to con struct the infinitelyvariable gear 34 as a reversing gear so that the auxiliary drive 47 canbe dispensed with.

Another possibility of conducting the supporting cheek chain 23 into itsinitial position ready for the next rib fitting operation consists inthat the supporting cheek chain is driven in the same direction y eitherby means of an auxiliary motor or the driving motor of the stampingmachine, with the stamping machine and possibly also the carrier ohaindisengaged, until the last supporting check 25 has again reached itsinitial position ready for the next rib fitting operation. Herein thefirst supporting check 22, on encountering the sliding cheeks 21,successively swings the horizontal carriers 9 back into their verticalposition.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for placing rib elements on an elongated object, incombination, conveyor means including a set of carriers for rib elementsand being movable in one direction for moving the rib elements along apath; stationary holding means for holding an elongated object in aposition in which at least a portion of the object extends along saidpath in such a manner that said carriers move along said portion towardsaid holding means for successively placing the rib elements on saidportion and for moving the rib elements along said portion; and controlmeans moving along said path in a direction opposite to said onedirection for successively actuating said carriers to separate from therib elements on said portion so that the rib elements are disposed onsaid portion of said elongated object in spaced positions correspondingto the positions of said control means relative to the elongated objectat the time of the actuation of the respective carrier.

2. In an apparatus for placing annular rib elements on an elongatedtube, in combination, conveyor means including a set of turnablecarriers for annular rib elements and being movable in one direction formoving the rib elements along a path; stationary holding means forholding an elongated tube in a position in which at least a portion ofthe tube extends along said path in such a manner that said carriersmove along said portion toward said holding means for successivelypressing the rib elements onto said portion and for moving the ribelements along said portion; and control means moving along said path ina direction opposite to said one direction for successively actuatingsaid carriers to turn so as to separate from rib elements pressed ontosaid portion so that the rib elements are disposed on said portion ofsaid tube in spaced positions corresponding to the positions of saidcontrol means relative to the tube at the time of the actuation of therespective carrier.

3. In an apparatus for placing annular rib elements on an elongatedtube, in combination, supply means for supplying rib elements; conveyormeans including a set of turnable carriers for annular rib elementssupplied by said supply means to said carrier and being movable in onedirection for moving the rib elements along a path, each of saidcarriers being turnable on said conveyor means between an operativeposition for transporting the rib elements along said path and aninoperative position withdrawn from said path; stationary holding meansfor holding an elongated tube in a position in which at least a portionof the tube extends along said path in such a manner that said carriersin said operative position move along said portion toward said holdingmeans for successively pressing the rib elements onto said portion andfor moving the rib elements along said portion; control means movingalong said path in a direction opposite to said one direction forsuccessively actuating said carriers to turn so as to move to saidinoperative position so as to separate from rib elements pressed ontosaid portion so that the rib elements are disposed on said portion ofsaid tube in spaced positions corresponding to the positions of saidcontrol means relative to the tube at the time of the actuation of therespective carrier; and means for operating said supply means, saidconveyor means, and said control means in a selected timed relationshipand at synchronized speeds.

4. In an apparatus for placing rib elements on an elongated object, incombination, conveyor means including a set of carriers for rib elementsand being movable in one direction for moving the rib elements along apath; stationary holding means for holding an elongated object in aposition in which at least a portion of the object extends along saidpath in such a manner that said carriers move along said portion towardsaid holding means for successively placing the rib elements on saidportion and for moving the rib elements along said portion; controlmeans moving along said path in a direction opposite to said onedirection for successively actuating said carriers to separate from therib elements on said portion so that the rib elements are disposed onsaid portion of said elongated object in spaced positions correspondingto the positions of said control means relative to the elongated objectat the time of the actuation of the respective carrier; drive means; andtransmission means connecting said drive means with said conveyer meansand said control means for driving the same, said transmission meansincluding an infinitely variable transmission device for varying therelative speed of said conveyor means and of said control means, wherebythe spacing of said rib elements on said elongated object may beadjusted.

5. In an apparatus for placing rib elements on an elongated object, incombination, supply means for supplying rib elements; conveyor meansincluding an endless conveyor band having a part extending to saidsupply means and a set of carriers for rib elements mounted on saidendless band for turning movement between an operative position fortransporting the rib elements and an inoperative position releasing therib elements, said carriers tending to turn to said inoperativeposition; drive means for moving said conveyor band in one direction sothat said band part moves away from said supply means while saidcarriers on said band part in said operative position move along apredetermined path; stationary holding means for holding an elongatedobject in a position in which at least a portion of said object extendsalong said path into the region of said supply means in such a mannerthat the carriers on said band part move along said portion toward saidholding means for successively placing said rib elements on said portionand for moving said rib elements along said portion; and control meansincluding guide means slidably engaging said carriers on said band partfor supporting said last-mentioned .carriers in said operative posit-ionso as to prevent movement of the same to said inoperative position, saidcontrol means being driven from said drive means at a speed synchronizedwith the speed of said conveyor band part so that said guide means movesin a direction opposite to said one direction away from said holdingmeans for successively rcleasing said carriers in positions spaceddifferent distances from said holding means so that the releasedcarriers turn to said inoperative position and separate from ribelements disposed on said elongated object whereby rib elements areplaced on the elongated object in spaced positions.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said guide meansincludes a plurality of guide members articulated relative to each otherand having guide faces engaging said carriers and moving along a pathparallel to said path.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said control meansincludes an endless control band, wherein said guide members are mountedon said control band, and wherein the distance between said carriers onsaid endless conveyor band is greater than the length of each of saidguide members.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and including a horn-shapedmember located in the region of said supply means and adapted toslidably support rib elements successively supplied by said supplymeans, said hornshaped member having a discharge end portion alignedwith said holding means and adapted to project to the end of saidelongated object remote from said holding means, said carriers in saidoperative position being adapted to engage rib elements on saidhorn-shaped member and to place the rib elements on the end of said 9elongated object by sliding the rib elements from said horn-shapedmember onto the workpiece.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim wherein each of said carriers hasa first part for supporting a rib element, and a second part extendingat an angle to said first part in a direction away from said holdingmeans and slidably engaging said guide means, the turning axis of eachof said carriers on said conveyor band being disposed so that eachcarrier tends to turn in a directlon in which said first part moves awayfrom said holding means and from the elongated object to saidinoperat1ve position when said second part is released by said guidemeans.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said second partincludes a detachable slide member.

11. In an apparatus for placing rib elements on an elongated object, incombination, conveyor means including an endless conveyor band and a setof carriers for rib elements mounted on said endless band for turningmovement between an operative position for transporting the rib elementsand an inoperative position releasing the rib elements, said carrierstending to move to said inoperative position; drive means for movingsaid conveyor band in one direction so that said conveyor band partmoves toward said holding means while said carriers on said band part insaid operative position move along a predetermined path; stationaryholding means for holding an elongated object in a position in which atleast a portion of said object extends along said path in such a mannerthat the carriers on said band part move along said portion toward saidholding means for successively placing the rib elements on said portionand for moving said rib elements along said portion; and control meansincluding an endless control band, and a plurality of guide membersarticulated relative to each other and secured to said control band,said slide member sl-idably engaging said carriers on said conveyor bandpart for supporting said last-mentioned carriers in said operativeposition so as to prevent movement of the same to said inoperativeposition, said control band moving in a direction opposite to thedirection of movement of said conveyor band so that said guide membersmove in a direction opposite to said one direction away from saidholding means for successively releasing said carriers in positionsspaced different distances from said holding means so that the releasedcarriers turn to said inoperative position and separate from ribelements disposed on the elongated object whereby the rib elements areplaced on the elongated object in spaced positions.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said conveyor band andsaid control band are link chains.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said guide members areprovided on only a part of said control band, said part of said controlband having a length adapted to correspond to the length of the portionof the elongated object which is to be provided with rib elements. I

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said guide membershave a total length corresponding to the distance between said holdingmeans and the free end of the elongated object.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said conveyor band andsaid control band have parallel portions adapted to extend parallel toan elongated object held in said holding means, said last mentionedportion of said control band being located below said last mentionedportion of said conveyor band.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said control band isan endless chain, having outwardly projecting extensions, said guidemembers being mounted on said extensions.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said chain comprisesinterconnected chain links, each of said guide members having a lengthat least corresponding substantially to the length of two of the links.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the last guide membertrailing in the direction of movement of said control band issubstantially longer than the other guide members.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 and including wheel means forguiding said control band so that the same has a straight portionextending to said wheel means and a curved portion about said wheelmeans, said straight portion of said control band extending parallel tosaid object and to a corresponding part of said conveyor band; andincluding a stationary rigid guideway extending parallel to said part ofsaid conveyor band in the region of said curved portion of said controlband for slidably guiding said carriers While said guide members passover said curved portion of said control band.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said transmissionmeans include means for reversing the movement of said control band sothat said control band and said guide members are returned to an initialposition after a selected number of rib elements has been placed on anelongated object.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said means forreversing includes reversing clutch means, and shafts rotating inopposite directions and connected by said reversing clutch means.

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein one of said shaftsdrives said conveyor band, another of said shafts drives said controlband, said last mentioned shafts being connected by a reversing clutch;and including a stamping machine for supplying rib elements to saidcarriers, said stamping machine being driven by said drive motor means,and wherein said reversible clutch means include a reversible clutch forconnecting the drive shaft of said control band with said drive motormeans.

23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22 and including an auxiliarymotor and a coupling means for coupling the drive shaft of said conveyorband with said auxiliary motor, and another coupling means for couplingsaid drive shaft for said conveyor band with the drive shaft for saidcontrol band for returning said control band to its initial position.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 and including an electricmotor means for driving said conveyor band and said control band, and alimit switch connected into the circuit of said electric motor means andbeing actuated by said control means to stop said motor and thereby saidconveyor band and control band in a selected position when the lasttrailing guide member has passed in said opposite direction beyond theportion of the object to be provided with rib elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,996,566 Boerger Apr. 2, 1935 2,006,383 'Boerger July 2, 1935 2,782,904San-gster Feb. 26, 1957

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR PLACING RIB ELEMENTS ON AN ELONGATED OBJECT, INCOMBINATION, CONVEYOR MEANS INCLUDING AN SET OF CARRIERS FOR RIBELEMENTS AND BEING MOVABLE IN ONE DIRECTION FOR MOVING THE RIB ELEMENTSALONG A PATH; STATIONARY HOLDING MEANS FOR HOLDING AN ELONGATED OBJECTIN A POSITION IN WHICH AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE OBJECT EXTENDS ALONGSAID PATH IN SUCH A MANNER THAT SAID CARRIERS MOVE ALONG SAID PORTIONTOWARD SAID HOLDING MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELY PLACING HE RIB ELEMENTS ONSAID PORTION AND FOR MOVING THE RIB ELEMENTS ALONG SAID PORTION; ANDCONTROL MEANS MOVING ALONG SAID PATH IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID ONEDIRECTION FOR SUCCESSIVELY ACTUATING SAID CARRIERS TO SEPARATE FROM THERIB ELEMENTS ON SAID PORTION SO THAT THE RIB ELEMENTS ARE DISPOSED ONSAID PORTION OF SAID ELONGATED OBJECT IN SPACED POSITIONS CORRESPONDINGTO THE POSITIONS OF SAID CONTROL MEANS RELATIVE TO THE ELONGATED OBJECTAT THE TIME OF THE ACTUATION OF THE RESPECTIVE CARRIER.